Willyard: Be an example

An Editorial by Becky Fullerton and Jennifer Willyard

Does anyone else feel that wheels within the district are just spinning and spinning?  Here we are, the first week of June and nothing in the best interest of our students or the taxpayers is being/has been accomplished.

The accomplishments we speak of, are not just the workings of the school board, but include the now apparent division of taxpayers in the district and the dissension that has now been created between our communities and the students in our schools. 

Everyone just stop!  Clear your mind for a moment and seriously think about what you/we are perpetuating.  We all need to step back and look at all of the issues objectively and not emotionally. 

As parents, we would ALL love to have a school in our neighborhoods.  We would, conveniently, be able to be more involved with our students and with the school as a whole.

As parents, we want our children to achieve and be all that they can be.  We want to encourage them to do their best in classes to make something of their lives, and we want them to take part in any and all of the activities that they enjoy.

As parents, we want our children to be educated, informed, respectful and helpful to others.  We want them to have tons of friends and be seen in a good light by their teachers and other members of the community as well.

What if, EVERY town had their own school?  What if, EVERY child made every sports team or EVERY activity to which they applied?  What if EVERY child was respectful, kind, and had a friendship with every person they knew?  
Wouldn’t that be nirvana?  Sadly that is not the way it is in the real world. 

In the real world you do not always agree with everyone.  Not everyone makes it for head cheerleader or quarterback.  Not everyone can afford a school in their neighborhood.  So what are we, as supposed adults, teaching our children with all of the irresponsible decisions and the “fighting” and dissension that has been created?   Are we teaching them to become ready for the real world?  For college? For the workplace?  NO, we are teaching them to do whatever it takes to fulfill their own agendas and the heck with whoever else may be in their way or hurt in the process.  As adults we should lead by example……this is not the case in this district.   Remember, actions reflect leadership.

So how do we reasonably compromise?  How can we, together, do what is responsible and beneficial to our children and to ALL people of the community?

Where in this district is there a good example of compromise?  Perhaps the adults in ASD should look to Lenape Tech as a place of compromise?  The students there come from all over the county.  They have learned to work TOGETHER and form lasting relationships with each other regardless of the school or the town they are from.  These students have a desire to learn and are looking at the big picture.  Most of these students also have the backing of their parents.  Parents who aren’t telling them “well you’re from Ford City so you cannot associate with anyone from Kittanning” or “you came from Elderton so you don’t want to befriend anyone from West Shamokin because that is such an awful place”.  The students at Lenape do not see themselves segregated by the prejudices and petty bickering of the adults from their attendance areas.  They have learned to work together for a common goal.  With appropriate examples as set by teachers and administrators at Lenape, these students are learning to function as positive, tolerant and productive ADULTS ready for the real world….ready for post high school success.  We should want that for all students throughout the district and throughout the county. 

Perhaps all of us should learn from their example.  Perhaps we should try to work TOGETHER for the good of the ENTIRE district.    

Maybe one good thing has come out of this whole awful situation….maybe we will all do our due diligence when voting for our representatives.  Maybe we will look at “agendas” and decide that they are not what is in the best interest of all of us and make more appropriate choices when picking our elected officials.  Maybe we will put more positive pressure on our now chosen officials to do what the majority of the voters want.

WILLYARD: DENIED!

The main topic at the ASD School Board’s open caucus meeting this week was the numerous transfer requests that were submitted by parents.

There were 28 transfer requests that were denied because of the following question asked of the parent signing the form:

“Does your child play any sport/s in grades 9-12 for his/her school? If yes, please be specific and list.”

The board did not care if a parent wanted educational continuity, if a parent had babysitting arrangements elsewhere, or if a family lived only 1/8 of a mile from an attendance border……if somebody had written Football, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Wrestling or any other sport, even without checking the box for sports as a reason for requesting the transfer, they were automatically denied.  Did the board even look at anything beyond that word “sports”?  Did they look to see if a student did flourish when transferred to new surroundings?

For the students that did have their transfer requests approved the board, according to Mr. Marklinski’s telephone interview in the Kittanning Paper, will force them to sit out of sports for 1 year.  Suddenly ASD Policy 252, Guideline #6 is being enforced in the district?  Why?  PIAA doesn’t care…..are they viewing it that the students were already at the schools in question for 1 year and are simply asking to stay where they are…….is this even LEGALLY a transfer??

Why is this board punishing parents and students who do not want to return to Elderton?   The school is reopening, being majorly renovated and staffed for the students who want to be there. The fact that there are some students who do not wish to return is not going adversely affect the students that will attend EHS.  The small number of students, with or without the transfers, will not change the class offerings at EHS, regardless they are already at the minimum for offering classes and losing a few more students will not make a difference in that regard.

We have already heard of one family that had requested that their two children be transferred.  One was approved and the other denied!  Why? You guessed….the one child plays a sport.

Before the meeting, we had heard of a young man who previously did not like school and his grades were barely passing.  With the closing of Elderton High School, he was transferred to a new school where he enjoyed the camaraderie, his grades improved and so did his spirit.  Thus, his family put in a transfer request to keep him in these surroundings that nurtured him.  Wouldn’t you do the same if it were your child?  Sure you would!  Any of us would.  But guess what?  He plays a sport.  We are going to take a guess that his family did put on the form that he plays because they seem to be honest people, so I am wondering if his request was indeed denied as well.

What do you do if you are a parent in any of these situations?  You start fighting.  It is YOUR child’s well being, it is YOUR child’s education and it is YOUR child that suddenly turned himself/herself around all because of a change of school.

If we were that parent, we would be filling out new request forms and attaching copies of previous report cards, letters from teachers and anything else relevant and then resubmitting it and making sure you got onto the agenda to speak to the board.

Were you denied your transfer request?  Let us hear about it.  Contact us by email at info@asd-news.com or by mail at

PO Box 424

Ford City, PA 16226

There was another little issue brought up at the meeting, but because it was at the end when most people had left, there has not been a lot of discussion about it…..the estimate from the architects for renovations of Elderton High School.

$18,000,000.00  That’s right,  Eighteen million dollars.

For a comparison of what this new study could possibly be, go to the ASD website and look at the 4-10-07 Hayes Large Facilities Master Plan.  In their study, what they deemed as a Level Two renovation had a cost of $15,212,200 with only approximately $4 million in reimbursement from the state.  Keep in mind, that figure did NOT include asbestos abatement which is VERY costly and must be done.

In closing this editorial, we would like to thank Dr. William Kerr for his years of service to our district.  There are many people here who have admired the dedication that you have shown to the students and families of ASD and appreciate the dignity and class you have shown in the face of adversity throughout the years.  We wish you the absolute best in your new position as Superintendent of Norwin School District.  Our loss is their gain.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.